Tumor-induced neurogenesis and immune evasion as targets of innovative anti-cancer therapies

Investigation and validation of neurotransmitter receptor-related biomarkers for forecasting clinical outcomes and immunotherapeutic efficacy in breast cancer

PURPOSE

The prognostic role of neurotransmitters and their receptors in breast cancer (BC) has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to construct a survival model for the prognosis of BC patients based on neurotransmitter receptor-related genes (NRRGs).

METHODS

BC-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened and intersected with NRRGs. GO, KEGG and PPI analyses were performed. Univariate Cox, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to construct prognostic models for biomarker expression levels. The model was validated using an external validation set. The receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) for diagnostic value prediction and clinicopathologic characteristic nomogram were constructed. qRT-PCR was used for further in vitro validation experiments.

RESULTS

Forty-five overlapping genes were obtained by intersecting BC-related DEGs with 172 NRRGs. Univariate Cox, LASSO and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to construct prognostic models for the expression levels of biomarkers including DLG3, SLC1A1, PSCA and PRKCZ. The feasibility of the model was validated by the GEO validation set. ROC curves were established for diagnostic value prediction. Patients in the high-risk group had a worse prognosis, higher TMB score, higher probability of gene mutation, and higher immune cell infiltration. RiskScore, M, N and Age were strongly correlated with survival. The mRNA expression levels of DLG3, PSCA and PRKCZ in the BC group were significantly higher than those in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Risk prediction model based on DLG3, SLC1A1, PSCA and PRKCZ, which are closely related to BC prognosis, was successfully constructed.

Clinical Significance and Immune Infiltration Analyses of a Novel Nerve-Related lncRNA Signature in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is a progressive disease with high morbidity and mortality. Accumulating evidence indicated that nervous system-cancer crosstalk can affect the occurrence and progression of GC. However, the role of nerve-related lncRNAs (NRLs) in GC remains largely unexplored. In this study, a total of 441 nerve-related genes were collected from the KEGG database, and two approaches, unsupervised clustering and WGCNA, were employed to identify NRLs. Lasso regression analysis was then used to construct the nerve-related lncRNA signature (NRLS). Based on the expression profiles of 5 lncRNAs, we developed a stable NRLS to predict survival in GC patients, and survival analyses showed significantly shorter overall survival (OS) in patients with high NRLS. In addition, the NRLS was found to be positively correlated with immune characteristics, including tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune modulators, cytokines and chemokines. We then analyzed the role of NRLS in predicting chemotherapy and immunotherapy responses, and constructed the OS nomogram combining NRLS and other clinical features. In conclusion, we constructed a robust NRLS model to stratify GC patients and predict the outcomes of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This study can provide a new perspective for future individualized treatment of GC.

Prognostic prediction and immune infiltration analysis based on lysosome and senescence state identifies MMP12 as a novel therapy target in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As humans undergo the aging process, they become more vulnerable to various types of cancers, including gastric cancer (GC), which is frequently associated with aging. The senescent phenotype is closely linked to lysosomes, but research on the combined impact of senescence and lysosomes on GC prognosis is scarce.

METHODS

To construct and validate a prognostic model for gastric cancer (GC), we obtained gene expression and clinical data of GC patients from Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. We employed Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression for model construction and ConsensusClusterPlus R package for generating cluster heatmaps. The model's predictive ability was evaluated through Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and ROC curve analysis. Our analysis included an assessment of the senescence and lysosome state using expression profiles and immune infiltration analysis through CIBERSORT methods. Finally, we validated potential gene targets through cellular experiments.

RESULTS

"In this research, we discovered two subtypes of gastric cancer (GC), Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. These subtypes are characterized by the presence of lysosomes and senescence, and we have identified distinct molecular features unique to each subtype. We observed that Cluster 2 had a lower survival prognosis compared to Cluster 1. Additionally, we have developed a risk prediction model that takes into consideration the presence of lysosomes and senescence. Patients in the high-risk group, as predicted by our model, experienced shorter survival times. Further analysis included immune infiltration, immune checkpoint, and chemotherapy evaluation of GC patients. We have displayed the frequency of mutations and copy number variations (CNVs) in visual formats. Our cellular experiments demonstrated that the MMP12 gene serves as a protective factor in GC cells."

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, we have clarified the extensive relationship between lysosomes and senescence in GC and developed a risk signature to forecast the prognosis of GC patients. MMP12 could be a promising protective factor for GC patients and might present a novel concept for anticipating the efficacy of targeted therapies and immunotherapies in GC patients.

Nervous system in colorectal cancer

A malignant tumor is a complex systemic disease involving the nervous system, which regulates nerve signals. Cancer neuroscience is a field that explores the interactions between tumors and the nervous system. The gastrointestinal tract is a typical peripheral organ with abundant neuroregulation and is regulated by the peripheral, enteric, and central nervous systems (PNS, ENS, and CNS, respectively). The physiological functions of the gastrointestinal tract are maintained via complex neuromodulation. Neuroregulatory imbalance is the primary cause of gastrointestinal diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In CRC, there is a direct interaction between the nervous system and tumor cells. Moreover, this tumor-nerve interaction can indirectly regulate the tumor microenvironment, including the microbiota, immunity, and metabolism. In addition to the lower nerve centers, the stress response, emotion, and cognition represented by the higher nerve centers also participate in the occurrence and progression of CRC. Herein, we review some basic knowledge regarding cancer neuroscience and elucidate the mechanism underlying tumor-nerve interactions in CRC.

Cholesterol: The driving force behind the remodeling of tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer

Essential membrane components and metabolites with a wide range of biological roles are both produced by cholesterol metabolism. Cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic stimuli alter cholesterol metabolism in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which in turn encourages colorectal carcinogenesis. Metabolites produced from cholesterol play intricate roles in promoting the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and stifling immunological responses. By altering the extracellular matrix of the main tumor, redesigning its immunological environment, and altering its mechanical stiffness, cholesterol can encourage the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the primary tumor, opening up a pathway for tumor metastasis. Its functions in TME remodeling and tumor prevention have been recently identified. In this review we address the function of cholesterol in TME remodeling and therapeutic techniques designed to block cholesterol metabolism, and discuss how combining these strategies with already available anti-CRC medicines can have combined effects and open up new therapeutic avenues.

Huaier-induced suppression of cancer-associated fibroblasts confers immunotherapeutic sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most intractable subgroup of breast neoplasms due to its aggressive nature. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have exhibited potential efficacy in TNBC treatment. However, only a limited fraction of patients benefit from ICI therapy, primarily because of the suppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Trametes robiniophila Murr (Huaier) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with potential immunoregulatory functions. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of Huaier in the TIME of TNBC patients.

METHODS

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to systematically analyze the influence of Huaier on the TNBC microenvironment for the first time. The mechanisms of the Huaier-induced suppression of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were assessed via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) and western blotting. A tumor-bearing mouse model was established to verify the effects of the oral administration of Huaier on immune infiltration.

RESULTS

Unsupervised clustering of the transcriptional profiles suggested an increase in the number of apoptotic cancer cells in the Huaier group. Treatment with Huaier induced immunological alterations from a "cold" to a "hot" state, which was accompanied by phenotypic changes in CAFs. Mechanistic analysis revealed that Huaier considerably attenuated the formation of myofibroblastic CAFs (myoCAFs) by impairing transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)/SMAD signaling. In mouse xenograft models, Huaier dramatically modulated CAF differentiation, thus synergizing with the programmed cell death 1 (PD1) blockade to impede tumor progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that Huaier regulates cancer immunity in TNBC by suppressing the transition of CAFs to myoCAFs and emphasize the crucial role of Huaier as an effective adjuvant agent in immunotherapy.

The Distinct Biological Effects of 6-Hydroxy-L-Nicotine in Representative Cancer Cell Lines

6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN) is a nicotine (NIC) derivative with proven therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, the impact of 6HLN on cell growth, migratory behavior, and inflammatory status of three different cancer cell lines (A549, MCF7, and U87) and two normal cell lines (16HBE14o and MCF10A) was investigated. In silico analyses were conducted to evaluate the binding affinity of 6HLN to nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) containing α9 and α5 subunits. The obtained in silico data revealed that 6HLN might act on the cholinergic system. Interestingly, the in vitro data showed the compound has cancer-stimulatory effects in U87 glioblastoma cells and cancer-inhibitory effects in MCF7 breast cancer cells. In A549 lung cancer cells, no changes were detected upon 6HLN administration. More importantly, 6HLN appears not to be deleterious for normal cells, with the viability of 16HBE14o pulmonary cells and MCF10A mammary cells remaining unchanged.

The role of pyroptosis in cancer: key components and therapeutic potential

Pyroptosis is a lytic and inflammatory form of gasdermin protein-mediated programmed cell death that is typically initiated by inflammasomes. The inflammasome response is an effective mechanism for eradicating germs and cancer cells in the event of cellular injury. The gasdermin family is responsible for initiating pyroptosis, a process in which holes are made in the cell membrane to allow inflammatory chemicals to escape. Mounting evidence indicates that pyroptosis is critical for controlling the development of cancer. In this review, we provide a general overview of pyroptosis, examine the relationship between the primary elements of pyroptosis and tumors, and stress the necessity of pyroptosis-targeted therapy in tumors. Furthermore, we explore its dual nature as a double-edged sword capable of both inhibiting and facilitating the growth of cancer, depending on the specific conditions. Ultimately, pyroptosis is a phenomenon that has both positive and negative effects on tumors. Using this dual impact in a reasonable manner may facilitate investigation into the initiation and progression of tumors and offer insights for the development of novel treatments centered on pyroptosis.

Periodontitis promotes tumor growth and immune evasion via PD-1/PD-L1

BACKGROUND

Our study investigated the role of experimental periodontitis on tumor growth, local and systemic immunosuppressive status, and programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) / programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and prostate cancer.

METHODS

Mouse oral or prostate cancer xenograft models were divided into control, periodontitis and periodontitis + anti-PD-1 groups. Tumor volume and weight were recorded and the levels of relevant immune-suppressive cells and T cells were detected by flow cytometry or immunofluorescence. THP-1 cells were stimulated using conditioned media of LPS-stimulated Cal-27 cells and PD-L1 expression was measured by quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Tumor specimens from OSCC patients with or without periodontitis were also collected for immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Periodontitis significantly promoted tumor volume and weight. Compared to the control, the proportions of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), PD-L1+TAMs and PD-1+CD8+T cells increased, while CD8+T cells decreased in the periodontitis group. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that there was an increase in PD-L1+TAMs and PD-1+CD8+T cells, but a decrease in IFN-γ+CD8+T cells in both xenografts and clinical OSCC samples with periodontitis. In vitro, LPS-stimulated Cal-27 cells had a stronger potential to induce PD-L1 expression in macrophages compared with unstimulated Cal-27 cells. And the promoting effect of periodontitis on tumor growth and immune evasion was significantly attenuated after anti-PD-1 therapy.

CONCLUSION

Periodontitis may facilitate tumor growth and immune escape evidenced by the increased immune-suppressive cells and the decreased functional T cells, via enhancing PD-1/PD-L1 expression in the tumor microenvironment.

E-selectin affinity glycoproteomics reveals neuroendocrine proteins and the secretin receptor as a poor-prognosis signature in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells express sialylated Lewis antigens (sLe), crucial for metastasis via E-selectin binding. However, these glycoepitopes lack cancer specificity, and E-selectin-targeted glycoproteins remain largely unknown. Here, we established a framework for identifying metastasis-linked glycoproteoforms. More than 70% of CRC tumors exhibited overexpression of sLeA/X, yet without discernible associations with metastasis or survival. However, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis unveiled differing expression patterns of sLeA/X-related glycogenes correlating with disease severity, indicating context-dependent regulation by distinct glycosyltransferases. Deeper exploration of metastatic tumor sialoglycoproteome identified nearly 600 glycoproteins, greatly expanding our understanding of the metastasis-related glycoproteome. These glycoproteins were linked to cell adhesion, oncogenic pathways, and neuroendocrine functions. Using an in-house algorithm, the secretin receptor (SCTR) emerged as a top-ranked targetable glycoprotein. Tumor screening confirmed SCTR's association with poor prognosis and metastasis, with N-glycosylation adding cancer specificity to this glycoprotein. Prognostic links were reinforced by TCGA-based investigations. In summary, SCTR, a relatively unknown CRC glycoprotein, holds potential as a biomarker of poor prognosis and as an E-selectin ligand, suggesting an unforeseen role in disease dissemination. Future investigations should focus on this glycoprotein's biological implications for clinical applications.

Targeted intervention in nerve-cancer crosstalk enhances pancreatic cancer chemotherapy

Nerve-cancer crosstalk has gained substantial attention owing to its impact on tumour growth, metastasis and therapy resistance. Effective therapeutic strategies targeting tumour-associated nerves within the intricate tumour microenvironment remain a major challenge in pancreatic cancer. Here we develop Escherichia coli Nissle 1917-derived outer membrane vesicles conjugated with nerve-binding peptide NP41, loaded with the tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) inhibitor larotrectinib (Lar@NP-OMVs) for tumour-associated nerve targeting. Lar@NP-OMVs achieve efficient nerve intervention to diminish neurite growth by disrupting the neurotrophin/Trk signalling pathway. Moreover, OMV-mediated repolarization of M2-like tumour-associated macrophages to an M1-like phenotype results in nerve injury, further accentuating Lar@NP-OMV-induced nerve intervention to inhibit nerve-triggered proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells and angiogenesis. Leveraging this strategy, Lar@NP-OMVs significantly reduce nerve infiltration and neurite growth promoted by gemcitabine within the tumour microenvironment, leading to augmented chemotherapy efficacy in pancreatic cancer. This study sheds light on a potential avenue for nerve-targeted therapeutic intervention for enhancing pancreatic cancer therapy.

Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background/Objectives: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer, with a lifetime risk of 14-20% that is rising every year. Although prognosis for cSCC is generally good, certain high-risk features of cSCC portend increased rates of nodal and distant metastasis, recurrence, and disease-specific mortality. One such high-risk factor is perineural invasion (PNI), which is broadly defined as the invasion of cancer into and around nerves. Compared to other high-risk factors, PNI presence is associated with the highest risk for locoregional and distant metastasis. Still, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of PNI remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest the migration and invasion of tumors into nerves is a result of complex molecular crosstalk within the tumor-nerve microenvironment, wherein the milieu of signaling molecules simultaneously promote neuronal growth and tumor cell invasion. Methods: Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that promote PNI will lead to future developments of targeted therapies that may improve locoregional control and survival. Results/Conclusions: In our article, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of recent findings about the pathogenesis of PNI, clinical implications of PNI-positive disease in cSCC, available treatment modalities, and potential future therapeutic targets.

Nanoparticle-mediated synergistic disruption of tumor innervation and redox homeostasis for potent antineoplastic therapy

Innervation is closely linked to several biological processes that promote tumor growth, making it an increasingly promising therapeutic target. In this study, biomimetic hollow MnO2 nanocarriers camouflaged with tumor cell membranes (HMLC) are developed to encapsulate lidocaine, an innervation inhibitor, for effective antineoplastic therapy. This approach aims to suppress nerve fiber growth and induce intracellular redox imbalance. Benefiting from the tumor-homing effect, HMLC accumulates in cancerous tissue during circulation and is endocytosed by tumor cells through homologous membrane fusion. Once inside the cells, MnO2 can be degraded by the overproduced glutathione and H2O2, leading to the tumor-specific release of Mn2+ and lidocaine. The Mn2+-mediated Fenton-like reaction promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and the resulting oxidative stress, combined with glutathione depletion, exacerbates redox imbalance. Simultaneously, the released lidocaine downregulates nerve growth factor and neuronatin. The reduction in nerve growth factor significantly inhibits nerve fiber formation and infiltration in tumor tissue, while the decrease in neuronatin reduces intracellular Ca2+, which helps prevent metastasis. Overall, this strategy highlights the potential of nanoparticle-based tumor innervation disruptors in antineoplastic therapy.

Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Prognostic and Depression Risk Index for Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Depressive disorder contributes to the initiation and prognosis of patients with cancer, but the interaction between cancer and depressive disorder remains unclear. We generated a gastric adenocarcinoma patient-derived xenograft mice model, treated with chronic unpredictable mild stimulation. Based on the RNA-sequence from the mouse model, patient data from TCGA, and MDD-related (major depressive disorder) genes from the GEO database, 56 hub genes were identified by the intersection of differential expression genes from the three datasets. Molecular subtypes and a prognostic signature were generated based on the 56 genes. A depressive mouse model was constructed to test the key changes in the signatures. The signature was constructed based on the NDUFA4L2, ANKRD45, and AQP3 genes. Patients with high risk-score had a worse overall survival than the patients with low scores, consistent with the results from the two GEO cohorts. The comprehensive results showed that a higher risk-score was correlated with higher levels of tumor immune exclusion, higher infiltration of M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, and neutrophils, higher angiogenetic activities, and more enriched epithelial-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways. A higher risk score was correlated to a higher MDD score, elevated MDD-related cytokines, and the dysfunction of neurogenesis-related genes, and parts of these changes showed similar trends in the animal model. With the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database, we found that the gastric adenocarcinoma patients with high risk-score may be sensitive to Pazopanib, XMD8.85, Midostaurin, HG.6.64.1, Elesclomol, Linifanib, AP.24534, Roscovitine, Cytarabine, and Axitinib. The gene signature consisting of the NDUFA4L2, ANKRD45, and AQP3 genes is a promising biomarker to distinguish the prognosis, the molecular and immune characteristics, the depressive risk, and the therapy candidates for gastric adenocarcinoma patients.

Single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing reveal SPP1 and CXCL12 as cell-to-cell communication markers to predict prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) generally presents as an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The characteristics of cell-to-cell communication in the LUAD microenvironment has been unclear. In this study, the LUAD bulk RNA-seq data and single-cell RNA-seq data were retrieved from public dataset. Differential expression genes (DEGs) between LUAD tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues were calculated by limma algorithm, and then detected by PPI, KEGG, and GO analysis. Cell-cell interactions were explored using the single-cell RNA-seq data. Finally, the first 15 CytoHubba genes were used to establish related pathways and these pathways were used to characterize the immune-related ligands and their receptors in LUAD. Our analyses showed that monocytes or macrophages interact with tissue stem cells and NK cells via SPP1 signaling pathway and tissue stem cells interact with T and B cells via CXCL signaling pathway in different states. Hub genes of SPP1 participated in SPP1 signaling pathway, which was negatively correlated with CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell. The expression of SPP1 in LUAD tumor tissues was negatively correlated with the prognosis. While CXCL12 participated in CXCL signaling pathway, which was positively correlated with CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell. The role of CXCL12 in LUAD tumor tissues exhibits an opposite effect to that of SPP1. This study reveals that tumor-associated monocytes or macrophages may affect tumor progression. Moreover, the SPP1 and CXCL12 may be the critic genes of cell-to-cell communication in LUAD, and targeting these pathways may provide a new molecular mechanism for the treatment of LUAD.

Base excision repair and double strand break repair cooperate to modulate the formation of unrepaired double strand breaks in mouse brain

We lack the fundamental information needed to understand how DNA damage in the brain is generated and how it is controlled over a lifetime in the absence of replication check points. To address these questions, here, we integrate cell-type and region-specific features of DNA repair activity in the normal brain. The brain has the same repair proteins as other tissues, but normal, canonical repair activity is unequal and is characterized by high base excision repair (BER) and low double strand break repair (DSBR). The natural imbalance creates conditions where single strand breaks (SSBs) can convert to double strand breaks (DSBs) and reversibly switch between states in response to oxidation both in vivo and in vitro. Our data suggest that, in a normal background of repair, SSBs and DSBs are in an equilibrium which is pushed or pulled by metabolic state. Interconversion of SSB to DSBs provides a physiological check point, which would allow the formation of unrepaired DSBs for productive functions, but would also restrict them from exceeding tolerable limits.

TUMOR-INFILTRATING NOCICEPTOR NEURONS PROMOTE IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

Nociceptor neurons impact tumor immunity. Removing nociceptor neurons reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSCs) tumor infiltration in mouse models of head and neck carcinoma and melanoma. Carcinoma-released small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) attract nociceptive nerves to tumors. sEV-deficient tumors fail to develop in mice lacking nociceptor neurons. Exposure of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons to cancer sEVs elevated expression of Substance P, IL-6 and injury-related neuronal markers while treatment with cancer sEVs and cytotoxic CD8 T-cells induced an immunosuppressive state (increased exhaustion ligands and cytokines). Cancer patient sEVs enhanced DRG responses to capsaicin, indicating increased nociceptor sensitivity. Conditioned media from DRG and cancer cell co-cultures promoted expression of MDSC markers in primary bone marrow cells while DRG conditioned media together with cancer sEVs induced checkpoint expression on T-cells. Our findings indicate that nociceptor neurons facilitate CD8+ T cell exhaustion and enhance MDSC infiltration. Targeting nociceptor-released IL-6 emerges as a novel strategy to disrupt harmful neuro-immune interactions in cancer and enhance anti-tumor immunity.

Serotonin's Role in Inflammatory Signaling Pathway Modulation for Colon Cancer Suppression

Background Neurons can be effectively regulated by serotonin and dopamine. Their role in anti-inflammatory pathways opens new doors for therapeutic research, particularly in chemotherapeutics. The present study investigated serotonin's role in suppressing inflammation and its potential anticancer effects in KERATIN-forming tumor cell line HeLa cells (KB cells).  Methods - in vitro and in silico analysis The study delved further into the molecular mechanisms by assessing the expression levels of key markers involved in inflammation and cancer progression, such as B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 protein (BCl-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) using Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction at concentrations below the IC50 (50 and 100 µg/ml). The binding capability of serotonin (CID 5202) with glycoform of human interleukin 6 (PDB: 7NXZ) was analyzed with the help of Schrodinger molecular suites. Results The findings showcased serotonin's potent growth inhibition in KB cells, with an IC50 value of 225±3.1µg/ml. Additionally, it demonstrated a multifaceted impact by downregulating the expression of BCl-2, TNF-α, and IL-6, pivotal factors in cancer cell survival and inflammation regulation. The docking score was - 5.65 (kcal/mol) between serotonin and glycoform of Human Interleukin 6. It is bound with ASN 143 by two hydrogen bonds. Thus, molecular docking analysis showed an efficient bounding pattern. The research findings indicate that serotonin successfully blocks NF-κB pathways in KB cells, underscoring its therapeutic promise against colon cancer and offering vital information for additional clinical investigation.  Conclusion According to the study's conclusion, serotonin has a remarkable anticancer potential by effectively blocking NF-κB B pathways in KB cells, revealing its promising potential as a therapeutic agent against colon cancer. These comprehensive findings offer significant insights into serotonin's intricate molecular interactions and its profound impact on cancer-related signaling pathways, paving the way for further exploration and potential clinical applications in cancer treatment strategies.

Tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes: A promising immunotherapeutic target for preventing immune escape in cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is becoming more common and deadly worldwide. Tumor-infiltrating T cell subtypes make distinct contributions to the immune system; collectively, they constitute a significant portion of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in CCA. By secreting cytokines and other chemicals, regulatory T cells (Tregs) decrease activated T cell responses, acting as immunosuppressors. Reduced CD8+ T cell activation results in stimulating programmed death-1 (PD-1), which undermines the immunological homeostasis of T lymphocytes. On the other hand, cancer cells are eliminated by activated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) through the perforin-granzyme or Fas-FasL pathways. Th1 and CTL immune cell infiltration into the malignant tumor is also facilitated by γδ T cells. A higher prognosis is typically implied by CD8+ T cell infiltration, and survival is inversely associated with Treg cell density. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, either singly or in combination, provide novel therapeutic strategies for CCA immunotherapy. Furthermore, it is anticipated that immunotherapeutic strategies-such as the identification of new immune targets, combination treatments involving several immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor-T therapies (CAR-T)-will optimize the effectiveness of anti-CCA treatments while reducing adverse effects.

Reconceiving Perineural Invasion in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: From Biological to Histopathological Assessment

BACKGROUND

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a complex molecular process histologically represented by the presence of tumor cells within the peripheral nerve sheath and defined when infiltration into the 3 nerve sheath layers can be clearly identified. Several molecular pathways have been implicated in cSCC. PNI is a well-recognized risk factor in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and its accurate assessment represents a challenging field in pathology daily practice.

SUMMARY

As a highly intricate and dynamic process, PNI involves a contingent on bidirectional signaling interactions between the tumor and various nerve components, such as Schwann cells and neurons. The current staging systems recommend the identification of PNI as a dichotomous variable (presence vs. absence) to identify a subgroup of high-risk patients. However, recent further insights revealed that the evaluation of morphological PNI-related features in cSCC may enhance the prognostic stratification of patients and may optimize the current staging guidelines for recurrence risk assessment and improvement of patient selection for postoperative adjuvant treatments. Furthermore, recent emerging biomarkers could redefine early PNI detection.

KEY MESSAGES

This review provides updated insights into cSCC with PNI, focusing on molecular and cellular pathogenic processes, and aims to increase knowledge on prognostic relevant PNI-related histological features.

CXCL5 impedes CD8+ T cell immunity by upregulating PD-L1 expression in lung cancer via PXN/AKT signaling phosphorylation and neutrophil chemotaxis

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancer types worldwide, with a high mortality rate. Upregulation of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) may represent a key mechanism for evading immune surveillance. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) antibodies against PD-1 or PD-L1 are therefore widely used to treat patients with lung cancer. However, the mechanisms by which lung cancer and neutrophils in the microenvironment sustain PD-L1 expression and impart stronger inhibition of CD8+ T cell function remain unclear.

METHODS

We investigated the role and underlying mechanism by which PD-L1+ lung cancer and PD-L1+ neutrophils impede the function of CD8+ T cells through magnetic bead cell sorting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, confocal immunofluorescence, gene silencing, flow cytometry, etc. In vivo efficacy and safety studies were conducted using (Non-obeseDiabetes/severe combined immune deficiency) SCID/NOD mice. Additionally, we collected clinical and prognostic data from 208 patients who underwent curative lung cancer resection between 2017 and 2018.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5) is markedly overexpressed in lung cancer cells and is positively correlated with a poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer. Mechanistically, CXCL5 activates the phosphorylation of the Paxillin/AKT signaling cascade, leading to upregulation of PD-L1 expression and the formation of a positive feedback loop. Moreover, CXCL5 attracts neutrophils, compromising CD8+ T cell-dependent antitumor immunity. These PD-L1+ neutrophils aggravate CD8+ T cell exhaustion following lung cancer domestication. Combined treatment with anti-CXCL5 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies significantly inhibits tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings collectively demonstrate that CXCL5 promotes immune escape through PD-L1 upregulation in lung cancer and neutrophils chemotaxis through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. CXCL5 may serve as a potential therapeutic target in synergy with ICBs in lung cancer immunotherapy.

Benzimidazole scaffold as a potent anticancer agent with different mechanisms of action (2016-2023)

Benzimidazole scaffolds have potent anticancer activity due to their structure similarity to nucleoside. In addition, benzimidazoles could function as hydrogen donors or acceptors and bind to different drug targets that participate in cancer progression. The literature had many anticancer agents containing benzimidazole cores that gained much interest. Provoked by our endless interest in benzimidazoles as anticancer agents, we summarized the successful trials of the benzimidazole scaffolds in this concern. Moreover, we discuss the substantial opportunities in cancer treatment using benzimidazole-based drugs that may direct medicinal chemists for a compelling future design of more active chemotherapeutic agents with potential clinical applications. The uniqueness of this work lies in the highlighted benzimidazole scaffold hybridization with different molecules and benzimidazole-metal complexes, detailed mechanisms of action, and the IC50 of the developed compounds determined by different laboratories after 2015.

Navigating the tumor microenvironment: mesenchymal stem cell-mediated delivery of anticancer agents

Scientific knowledge of cancer has advanced greatly throughout the years, with most recent studies findings includes many hallmarks that capture disease's multifaceted character. One of the novel approach utilised for the delivery of anti-cancer agents includes mesenchymal stem cell mediated drug delivery. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are non-haematopoietic progenitor cells that may be extracted from bone marrow, tooth pulp, adipose tissue and placenta/umbilical cord blood dealing with adult stem cells. MSCs are mostly involved in regeneration of tissue, they have also been shown to preferentially migrate to location of several types of tumour in-vivo. Usage of MSCs ought to improve both effectiveness and safety of anti-cancer drugs by enhancing delivery efficiency of anti-cancer therapies to tumour site. Numerous researches has demonstrated that various drugs, when delivered via mesenchymal stem cell mediated delivery can elicit anti-tumour effect of cells in cancers of breast cells and thyroid cells. MSCs have minimal immunogenicity because to lack of co-stimulatory molecule expression, which means there is no requirement for immunosuppression after allogenic transplantation. This current review elaborates recent advancements of mesenchyma stem cell mediated drug delivery of anti-cancer agents along with its mechanism and previously reported studies of drugs manufactured via this drug delivery system.

Highly expressed of BID indicates poor prognosis and mediates different tumor microenvironment characteristics in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Studies have found that BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID) is closely related to the occurrence and development of many kinds of tumors. However, little attention has been paid to the situation of BID in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). So, our aim was to explore the effect of BID in ccRCC.

METHODS

Survival analysis, ROC curve, correlation analysis and Cox regression analysis were executed to analyze the prognostic value and clinical correlation of BID in ccRCC. The risk prognosis model was constructed in the training cohort and further validated in the internal testing cohort, ICGC cohort, and GEO cohort. Transcriptome sequencing and immunohistochemical staining of clinical specimens were used to validate the results of bioinformatics analysis. The GSEA, ESTIMATE algorithm, CIBERSORT algorithm, ssGSEA, TIDE score, correlation and difference analysis were used to analyze the effects of BID on immune infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME).

RESULTS

BID was highly expressed in ccRCC tissues, which was verified by transcriptome sequencing and immunohistochemical staining of clinical specimens. Patients with high expression of BID had a worse prognosis. BID is an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC. The prognostic model based on BID can accurately predict the prognosis of patients in different cohorts. In addition, the expression levels of BID was closely related to immunomodulatory molecules such as PD-1, LAG3, and CTLA4. Enrichment analysis indicated that BID was significantly enriched in immune-related responses and cancer-related pathways. The change of BID expression mediates different characteristics of immune infiltration in TME.

CONCLUSIONS

BID is highly expressed in ccRCC, which is a reliable biomarker of ccRCC prognosis. It is closely related to TME, and may be a potential target for immunotherapy in patients with ccRCC.

Betaglycan sustains HGF/Met signaling in lung cancer and endothelial cells promoting cell migration and tumor growth

Persistent HGF/Met signaling drives tumor growth and dissemination. Proteoglycans within the tumor microenvironment might control HGF availability and signaling by affecting its accessibility to Met (HGF receptor), likely defining whether acute or sustained HGF/Met signaling cues take place. Given that betaglycan (BG, also known as type III TGFβ receptor or TGFBR3), a multi-faceted proteoglycan TGFβ co-receptor, can be found within the tumor microenvironment, we addressed its hypothetical role in oncogenic HGF signaling. We found that HGF/Met promotes lung cancer and endothelial cells migration via PI3K and mTOR. This effect was enhanced by recombinant soluble betaglycan (solBG) via a mechanism attributable to its glycosaminoglycan chains, as a mutant without them did not modulate HGF effects. Moreover, soluble betaglycan extended the effect of HGF-induced phosphorylation of Met, Akt, and Erk, and membrane recruitment of the RhoGEF P-Rex1. Data-mining analysis of lung cancer patient datasets revealed a significant correlation between high MET receptor, HGF, and PREX1 expression and reduced patient survival. Soluble betaglycan showed biochemical interaction with HGF and, together, they increased tumor growth in immunocompetent mice. In conclusion, the oncogenic properties of the HGF/Met pathway are enhanced and sustained by GAG-containing soluble betaglycan.

Fibrinogen and tumors

Elevated plasma fibrinogen (Fg) levels consistently correlate with an unfavorable prognosis in various tumor patient cohorts. Within the tumor microenvironment, aberrant deposition and expression of Fg have been consistently observed, interacting with multiple cellular receptors and thereby accentuating its role as a regulator of inflammatory processes. Specifically, Fg serves to stimulate and recruit immune cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby contributing to the promotion of tumor progression. Additionally, Fg and its fragments exhibit dichotomous effects on tumor angiogenesis. Notably, Fg also facilitates tumor migration through both platelet-dependent and platelet-independent mechanisms. Recent studies have illuminated several tumor-related signaling pathways influenced by Fg. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the intricate involvement of Fg in tumor biology, elucidating its multifaceted role and the underlying mechanisms.

The cancer-immune dialogue in the context of stress

Although there is little direct evidence supporting that stress affects cancer incidence, it does influence the evolution, dissemination and therapeutic outcomes of neoplasia, as shown in human epidemiological analyses and mouse models. The experience of and response to physiological and psychological stressors can trigger neurological and endocrine alterations, which subsequently influence malignant (stem) cells, stromal cells and immune cells in the tumour microenvironment, as well as systemic factors in the tumour macroenvironment. Importantly, stress-induced neuroendocrine changes that can regulate immune responses have been gradually uncovered. Numerous stress-associated immunomodulatory molecules (SAIMs) can reshape natural or therapy-induced antitumour responses by engaging their corresponding receptors on immune cells. Moreover, stress can cause systemic or local metabolic reprogramming and change the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota which can indirectly modulate antitumour immunity. Here, we explore the complex circuitries that link stress to perturbations in the cancer-immune dialogue and their implications for therapeutic approaches to cancer.

Revolutionizing pediatric neuroblastoma treatment: unraveling new molecular targets for precision interventions

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most frequent solid tumor in pediatric cases, contributing to around 15% of childhood cancer-related deaths. The wide-ranging genetic, morphological, and clinical diversity within NB complicates the success of current treatment methods. Acquiring an in-depth understanding of genetic alterations implicated in the development of NB is essential for creating safer and more efficient therapies for this severe condition. Several molecular signatures are being studied as potential targets for developing new treatments for NB patients. In this article, we have examined the molecular factors and genetic irregularities, including those within insulin gene enhancer binding protein 1 (ISL1), dihydropyrimidinase-like 3 (DPYSL3), receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) and murine double minute 2-tumor protein 53 (MDM2-P53) that play an essential role in the development of NB. A thorough summary of the molecular targeted treatments currently being studied in pre-clinical and clinical trials has been described. Recent studies of immunotherapeutic agents used in NB are also studied in this article. Moreover, we explore potential future directions to discover new targets and treatments to enhance existing therapies and ultimately improve treatment outcomes and survival rates for NB patients.

Pirin Inhibits FAS-Mediated Apoptosis to Support Colorectal Cancer Survival

Resistance to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with obstruction of FAS (Apo-1 or CD95)-dependent apoptosis, a hallmark of cancer. Here it is demonstrated that the upregulation of pirin (PIR) protein in colon cancers promotes tumorigenesis. Knockout or inhibition of PIR dramatically increases FAS expression, FAS-dependent apoptosis and attenuates colorectal tumor formation in mice. Specifically, NFκB2 is a direct transcriptional activator of FAS and robustly suppressed by PIR in dual mechanisms. One is the disruption of NFκB2 complex (p52-RELB) association with FAS promoter, the other is the inhibition of NIK-mediated NFκB2 activation and nuclear translocation, leading to the inability of active NFκB2 complex toward the transcription of FAS. Furthermore, PIR interacts with FAS and recruits it in cytosol, preventing its membrane translocation and assembling. Importantly, knockdown or knockout of PIR dramatically sensitizes cells to FAS mAb- or active CD8+ T cells-triggered cell death. Taken together, a PIR-NIK-NFκB2-FAS survival pathway is established, which plays a key role in supporting CRC survival.

NLRP6 deficiency suppresses colorectal cancer liver metastasis growth by modulating M-MDSC-induced immunosuppressive microenvironment

Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) a profound influence on the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), prompting a comprehensive inquiry into its underlying mechanisms. Amidst the multifaceted tumor microenvironment, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have emerged as pivotal orchestrators of immune modulation. However, their specific contributions to the CRLM have not been explored. The role of NLRP6, a member of the NOD-like receptor family, is of interest. Employing a liver metastasis model, our investigation revealed a heightened accumulation of monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs) within metastatic sites, culminating in an immunosuppressive milieu characterized by depleted CD8+ T cell populations. Remarkably, the absence of NLRP6 disrupts this intricate immunosuppressive network, highlighting its nuanced role in sculpting the trajectory of CRLM. This study elucidates the interplay between NLRP6 and MDSCs, potentially guiding novel therapeutic strategies to recalibrate the immune microenvironment in CRLM and enhance patient outcomes.

Benzosceptrin C induces lysosomal degradation of PD-L1 and promotes antitumor immunity by targeting DHHC3

Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blockade has become a mainstay of cancer immunotherapy. Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis with small molecules is an attractive approach to enhance antitumor immunity. Here, we identified a natural marine product, benzosceptrin C (BC), that enhances the cytotoxicity of T cells to cancer cells by reducing the abundance of PD-L1. Furthermore, BC exerts its antitumor effect in mice bearing MC38 tumors by activating tumor-infiltrating T cell immunity. Mechanistic studies suggest that BC can prevent palmitoylation of PD-L1 by inhibiting DHHC3 enzymatic activity. Subsequently, PD-L1 is transferred from the membrane to the cytoplasm and cannot return to the membrane via recycling endosomes, triggering lysosome-mediated degradation of PD-L1. Moreover, the combination of BC and anti-CTLA4 effectively enhances antitumor T cell immunity. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized antitumor mechanism of BC and represent an alternative immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapeutic strategy to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

Lingual Denervation Improves the Efficacy of Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas by Downregulating TGFβ Signaling

PURPOSE

Intratumoral nerve infiltration relates to tumor progression and poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). How neural involvement regulates antitumor immunity has not been well characterized. This study aims to investigate molecular mechanisms of regulating tumor aggressiveness and impairing antitumor immunity by nerve-derived factors.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We performed the surgical lingual denervation in an immunocompetent mouse OSCC model to investigate its effect on tumor growth and the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. A trigeminal ganglion neuron and OSCC cell coculture system was established to investigate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells and the PD-L1 expression. Both the neuron-tumor cell coculture in vitro model and the OSCC animal model were explored.

RESULTS

Lingual denervation slowed down tumor growth and improved the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment in the OSCC model. Coculturing with neurons not only enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion but also upregulated TGFβ-SMAD2 signaling and PD-L1 expression of tumor cells. Treatment with the TGFβ signaling inhibitor galunisertib reversed nerve-derived tumor aggressiveness and downregulated PD-L1 on tumor cells. Similarly, lingual denervation in vivo decreased TGFβ and PD-L1 expression and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration and the expression of IFNγ and TNFα within tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Neural involvement enhanced tumor aggressiveness through upregulating TGFβ signaling and PD-L1 expression in OSCC, while denervation of OSCC inhibited tumor growth, downregulated TGFβ signaling, enhanced activities of CD8+ T cells, and improved the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. This study will encourage further research focusing on denervation as a potential adjuvant therapeutic approach in OSCC.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study revealed the specific mechanisms for nerve-derived cancer progression and impaired antitumor immunity in OSCC, providing a novel insight into the cancer-neuron-immune network as well as pointing the way for new strategies targeting nerve-cancer cross-talk as a potential adjuvant therapeutic approach for OSCC.

Stage II oesophageal carcinoma: peril in disguise associated with cellular reprogramming and oncogenesis regulated by pseudogenes

INTRODUCTION

Pseudogenes have been implicated for their role in regulating cellular differentiation and organismal development. However, their role in promoting cancer-associated differentiation has not been well-studied. This study explores the tumour landscape of oesophageal carcinoma to identify pseudogenes that may regulate events of differentiation to promote oncogenic transformation.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

De-regulated differentiation-associated pseudogenes were identified using DeSeq2 followed by 'InteractiVenn' analysis to identify their expression pattern. Gene expression dependent and independent enrichment analyses were performed with GSEA and ShinyGO, respectively, followed by quantification of cellular reprogramming, extent of differentiation and pleiotropy using three unique metrics. Stage-specific gene regulatory networks using Bayesian Network Splitting Average were generated, followed by network topology analysis. MEME, STREME and Tomtom were employed to identify transcription factors and miRNAs that play a regulatory role downstream of pseudogenes to initiate cellular reprogramming and further promote oncogenic transformation. The patient samples were stratified based on the expression pattern of pseudogenes, followed by GSEA, mutation analysis and survival analysis using GSEA, MAF and 'survminer', respectively.

RESULTS

Pseudogenes display a unique stage-wise expression pattern that characterizes stage II (SII) ESCA with a high rate of cellular reprogramming, degree of differentiation and pleiotropy. Gene regulatory network and associated topology indicate high robustness, thus validating high pleiotropy observed for SII. Pseudogene-regulated expression of SOX2, FEV, PRRX1 and TFAP2A in SII may modulate cellular reprogramming and promote oncogenesis. Additionally, patient stratification-based mutational analysis in SII signifies APOBEC3A (A3A) as a potential hallmark of homeostatic mutational events of reprogrammed cells which in addition to de-regulated APOBEC3G leads to distinct events of hypermutations. Further enrichment analysis for both cohorts revealed the critical role of combinatorial expression of pseudogenes in cellular reprogramming. Finally, survival analysis reveals distinct genes that promote poor prognosis in SII ESCA and patient-stratified cohorts, thus providing valuable prognostic bio-markers along with markers of differentiation and oncogenesis for distinct landscapes of pseudogene expression.

CONCLUSION

Pseudogenes associated with the events of differentiation potentially aid in the initiation of cellular reprogramming to facilitate oncogenic transformation, especially during SII ESCA. Despite a better overall survival of SII, patient stratification reveals combinatorial de-regulation of pseudogenes as a notable marker for a high degree of cellular differentiation with a unique mutational landscape.

Pan-cancer analysis of 60S Ribosomal Protein L7-Like 1 (RPL7L1) and validation in liver hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is an association between cancer and increased ribosome biogenesis. At present, the RPL7L1 (60S Ribosomal Protein L7-Like 1) were less reported by literature search. Study reports that RPL7L1 is associated with mouse embryonic and skeletal muscle. The study of RPL7L1 on tumors has not been reported.

METHODS

Our team downloaded the pan-cancer dataset that is uniformly normalized from the UCSC database (N=19131). Our study examined the relationship between RPL7L1 expression level and clinical prognosis with methylation, anti-tumour immunity, functional states, MSI, TMB, DNSss, LOH and chemotherapeutic responses in 43 cancer types and subtypes.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

RPL7L1 was overexpressed in nine tumor types. Gene mutation, tumor microenvironment and methylation modification of RPL7L1 plays a key role in patient prognosis. And the high expression of RPL7L1 was associated with TMB, MSI, LOH especially LIHC and HNSC. We experimentally verified that genes can promote the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. Our study suggested that RPL7L1 biomarker can be used for treating cancer, detecting it, and predicting its prognosis.

The pyroptosis-related signature predicts prognosis and influences the tumor immune microenvironment in dedifferentiated liposarcoma

Background

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL), a member of malignant mesenchymal tumors, has a high local recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Pyroptosis, a newly discovered programmed cell death, is tightly connected with the progression and outcome of tumor.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the role of pyroptosis in DDL.

Methods

We obtained the RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases to identify different pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) expression pattern. An unsupervised method for clustering based on PRGs was performed. Based on the result of cluster analysis, we researched clinical outcomes and immune microenvironment between clusters. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two clusters were used to develop a prognosis model by the LASSO Cox regression method, followed by the performance of functional enrichment analysis and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. All of the above results were validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset.

Results

Forty-one differentially expressed PRGs were found between tumor and normal tissues. A consensus clustering analysis based on PRGs was conducted and classified DDL patients into two clusters. Cluster 2 showed a better outcome, higher immune scores, higher immune cells abundances, and higher expression levels in numerous immune checkpoints. DEGs between clusters were identified. A total of 5 gene signatures was built based on the DEGs and divided all DDL patients of the TCGA cohort into low-risk and high-risk groups. The low-risk group indicates greater inflammatory cell infiltration and better outcome. For external validation, the survival difference and immune landscape between the two risk groups of the GEO cohort were also significant. Receiver operating characteristic curves implied that the risk model could exert its function as an outstanding predictor in predicting DDL patients' prognoses.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed the clinical implication and key role in tumor immunity of PRGs in DDL. The risk model is a promising predictive tool that could provide a fundamental basis for future studies and individualized immunotherapy.

Cancer Nanobombs Delivering Artoxplatin with a Polyigniter Bearing Hydrophobic Ferrocene Units Upregulate PD-L1 Expression and Stimulate Stronger Anticancer Immunity

Poor immunogenicity seriously hampers the broader implementation of antitumor immunotherapy. Enhanced immunogenicity capable of achieving greater antitumor immunity is urgently required. Here, a novel polymer that contains hydrophobic ferrocene (Fc) units and thioketal bonds in the main chain, which further delivered a prodrug of oxaliplatin and artesunate, i.e., Artoxplatin, to cancer cells is described. This polymer with Fc units in the nanoparticle can work as a polyigniter to spark the peroxide bonds in Artoxplatin and generate abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancers as nanobombig for cancer therapy. Moreover, ROS can trigger the breakdown of thioketal bonds in the polymer, resulting in the biodegradation of the polymer. Importantly, nanobombig can facilitate the maturation of dendritic cells and promote the activation of antitumor immunity, through the enhanced immunogenic cell death effect by ROS generated in situ. Furthermore, metabolomics analysis reveals a decrease in glutamine in nanobombig -treated cancer cells, resulting in the upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Consequently, it is further demonstrated enhanced tumor inhibitory effects when using nanobombig combined with anti-PD-L1 therapy. Overall, the nanosystem offers a rational design of an efficient chemo-immunotherapy regimen to promote antitumor immunity by improving tumor immunogenicity, addressing the key challenges cancer immunotherapy faced.

High Level of Adropin Promotes the Progression of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Preliminary experiments have revealed the abnormally high expression level of adropin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). This study investigated the role of adropin in the progression of PDA.

METHODS

The paraffin-embedded samples of 20 patients with PDA were obtained from the hospital biobank, and immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate adropin expression. PDA cell lines were cultured and treated with recombinant adropin or adropin knockdown. Cell behavior was assessed, and the expression of phospho-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (p-VEGFR2) and other related proteins was detected. The cell-derived xenograft (CDX) of PDA was established, and the effects of adropin or adropin knockdown on tumor growth were observed.

RESULTS

The PDA cancer tissues exhibited elevated adropin protein expression compared with the paracancerous tissues, and the expression was positively correlated with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels in patients. Adropin significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of PDA cells and upregulated the expression of p-VEGFR2, Ki67, cyclin D1, and matrix metalloprotein 2 (MMP2). After the knockdown of adropin expression or blockade of VEGFR2, the above effects of adropin were significantly reversed. Adropin supplementation significantly accelerated tumor growth in PDA CDX; upregulated the expression of p-VEGFR2, Ki67, cyclin D1, and MMP2; and promoted angiogenesis in tumor tissue microenvironment. However, CDX inoculated with adropin knockdown cells produced the opposite results.

CONCLUSION

Adropin overexpression in PDA promotes cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis in tumor microenvironment by continuously activating VEGFR2 signaling, thereby creating conditions for tumor progression. Thus, targeting adropin may be an effective anti-PDA strategy.

Neuronatin Promotes the Progression of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Activating the NF-κB Signaling

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Understanding the regulatory mechanisms involving neuronatin (NNAT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an ongoing challenge. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of NNAT knockdown on NSCLC by employing both in vitro and in vivo approaches.

METHODS

To investigate the role of NNAT, its expression was silenced in NSCLC cell lines A549 and H226. Subsequently, various parameters, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis, were assessed. Additionally, cell-derived xenograft models were established to evaluate the effect of NNAT knockdown on tumor growth. The expression of key molecules, including cyclin D1, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), p65, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and nerve growth factor (NGF) were examined both in vitro and in vivo. Nerve fiber density within tumor tissues was analyzed using silver staining.

RESULTS

Upon NNAT knockdown, a remarkable reduction in NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration was observed, accompanied by elevated levels of apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of cyclin D1, Bcl-2, MMP2, and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) showed significant downregulation. In vivo, NNAT knockdown led to substantial inhibition of tumor growth and a concurrent decrease in cyclinD1, Bcl-2, MMP2, and p-p65 expression within tumor tissues. Importantly, NNAT knockdown also led to a decrease in nerve fiber density and downregulation of NGF expression within the xenograft tumor tissues.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings suggest that neuronatin plays a pivotal role in driving NSCLC progression, potentially through the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling cascade. Additionally, neuronatin may contribute to the modulation of tumor microenvironment innervation in NSCLC. Targeting neuronatin inhibition emerges as a promising strategy for potential anti-NSCLC therapeutic intervention.

NLRP3/IL-1β induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells recruitment and PD-L1 upregulation promotes oxaliplatin resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma

Oxaliplatin is commonly used as the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, the acquired resistance, limits the effectiveness of oxaliplatin and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, we explored the role of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/IL-1β in mediating oxaliplatin resistance in HCC. We observed that NLRP3/IL-1β expression was much higher in oxaliplatin-resistant HCC cells. To further understand its impact on drug resistance, we knocked down NLRP3 and observed that it sensitized HCC cells to the growth-inhibitory effects of oxaliplatin and induced cell apoptosis. NLRP3/IL-1β overexpressing tumor cells also attracted polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Using mouse models, we demonstrated that NLRP3/IL-1β inhibition by short hairpin RNA or MCC950 effectively overcame oxaliplatin resistance. Furthermore, NLRP3/IL-1β inhibition resulted in reduced expression of PD-L1. We also found that PD-L1 antibody combined with NLRP3/IL-1β blockade displayed significant antitumor effect in HCC. Overall, our study provides compelling evidence supporting the essential role of NLRP3/IL-1β in conferring resistance to oxaliplatin and reshaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment in HCC. Targeting NLRP3/IL-1β presents a potential therapeutic target for overcoming oxaliplatin resistance and reshaping microenvironment of HCC.

Neurotransmitter receptor-related gene signature as potential prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in colorectal cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. A various of neurotransmitter receptors have been found to be expressed in tumor cells, and the activation of these receptors may promote tumor growth and metastasis. This study aimed to construct a novel neurotransmitter receptor-related genes signature to predict the survival, immune microenvironment, and treatment response of colorectal cancer patients. Methods: RNA-seq and clinical data of colorectal cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and Gene Expression Omnibus were downloaded. Neurotransmitter receptor-related gene were collected from publicly available data sources. The Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) logistic regression, Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE), and Random Forest (RF) algorithms were employed to construct the Neurotransmitter receptor-related gene prognostic signature. Further analyses, functional enrichment, CIBERSORTx, The Tumor Immune Single Cell Center (TISCH), survival analysis, and CellMiner, were performed to analyze immune status and treatment responses. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays were carried out to confirm the expression levels of prognostic genes. Results: By combining machine learning algorithm and WGCNA, we identified CHRNA3, GABRD, GRIK3, and GRIK5 as Neurotransmitter receptor-related prognostic genes signature. Functional enrichment analyses showed that these genes were enriched with cellular metabolic-related pathways, such as organic acid, inorganic acid, and lipid metabolism. CIBERSORTx and Single cell analysis showed that the high expression of genes were positively correlated with immunosuppressive cells infiltration, and the genes were mainly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts and endothelial cells. A nomogram was further built to predict overall survival (OS). The expression of CHRNA3, GABRD, GRIK3, and GRIK5 in cancer cells significantly impacted their response to chemotherapy. Conclusion: A neurotransmitter receptor-related prognostic gene signature was developed and validated in the current study, giving novel sights of neurotransmitter in predicting the prognostic and improving the treatment of CRC.

Targeting tumor-associated macrophage: an adjuvant strategy for lung cancer therapy

The emergence of immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for various types of cancer. Nevertheless, lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide due to the development of resistance in most patients. As one of the most abundant groups of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play crucial and complex roles in the development of lung cancer, including the regulation of immunosuppressive TME remodeling, metabolic reprogramming, neoangiogenesis, metastasis, and promotion of tumoral neurogenesis. Hence, relevant strategies for lung cancer therapy, such as inhibition of macrophage recruitment, TAM reprograming, depletion of TAMs, and engineering of TAMs for drug delivery, have been developed. Based on the satisfactory treatment effect of TAM-targeted therapy, recent studies also investigated its synergistic effect with current therapies for lung cancer, including immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) treatment, or photodynamic therapy. Thus, in this article, we summarized the key mechanisms of TAMs contributing to lung cancer progression and elaborated on the novel therapeutic strategies against TAMs. We also discussed the therapeutic potential of TAM targeting as adjuvant therapy in the current treatment of lung cancer, particularly highlighting the TAM-centered strategies for improving the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) treatment.

Immunobiology of cancer stem cells and their immunoevasion mechanisms

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) defined as a small fraction of cells within malignancies have been isolated from tumors with different histological origins with stem related characteristics such as self-replicating potential, tumorigenesis, and therapy resistance. The dynamic communication between CSCs and tumor microenvironment particularly immune cells orchestrates their fate and plasticity as well as the patient outcome. According to recent evidence, it has been reported that they harness different immunological pathways to escape immunosurveillance and express aberrantly immunomodulatory agents or decreased levels of factors forming antigen presenting machinery (APM), subsequently followed by impaired antigen presentation and suppressed immune detection. As effective therapies are expected to be able to eradicate CSCs, mechanistic understanding of such interactions can provide insights into causes of therapy failure particularly in immunotherapy. Also, it can contribute to enhance the practical interventions against CSCs and their immunomodulatory features resulting in CSCs eradication and improving patient clinical outcome. The aim of this review is to explain the present knowledge regarding the immunobiology of CSCs and the immunoevasion mechanisms they use.

Immune evasion on the nanoscale: Small extracellular vesicles in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma immunity

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a type of cancer alarmingly expanding in our modern societies that is still proving to be very challenging to counteract. This disease constitutes a quintessential example of the multiple interactions existing between the tumour and its surrounding microenvironment. In particular, PDAC is characterized by a very immunosuppressive environment that favours cancer growth and makes this cancer type very resistant to immunotherapy. The primary tumour releases many factors that influence both the microenvironment and the immune landscape. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), recently identified as indispensable entities ensuring cell-to-cell communication in both physiological and pathological processes, seem to play a pivotal function in ensuring the delivery of these factors to the tumour-surrounding tissues. In this review, we summarize the present understanding on the crosstalk among tumour cells and the cellular immune microenvironment emphasizing the pro-malignant role played by extracellular vesicles. We also discuss how a greater knowledge of the roles of EVs in tumour immune escape could be translated into clinical applications.

Combination of PD-1 Checkpoint Blockade and Botulinum Toxin Type A1 Improves Antitumor Responses in Mouse Tumor Models of Melanoma and Colon Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Tumor innervation has been shown to be utilized by some solid cancers to support tumor initiation, growth, progression, and metastasis, as well as confer resistance to immune checkpoint blockade through suppression of antitumor immunologic responses. Since botulinum neurotoxin type A1 (BoNT/A1) blocks neuronal cholinergic signaling, its potential use as an anticancer drug in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy was investigated in four different syngeneic mouse tumor models.

METHODS

Mice implanted with breast (4T1), lung (LLC1), colon (MC38), and melanoma (B16-F10) tumors were administered a single intratumoral injection of 15 U/kg BoNT/A1, repeated intraperitoneal injections of 5 mg/kg anti-PD-1 (RMP1-14), or both.

RESULTS

Compared to the single-agent treatments, anti-PD-1 and BoNT/A1 combination treatment elicited significant reduction in tumor growth among B16-F10 and MC38 tumor-bearing mice. The combination treatment also lowered serum exosome levels in these mice compared to the placebo control group. In the B16-F10 syngeneic mouse tumor model, anti-PD-1 + BoNT/A1 combination treatment lowered the proportion of MDSCs, negated the increased proportion of Treg cells, and elicited a higher number of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes into the tumor microenvironment compared to anti-PD-1 treatment alone.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the synergistic antitumor effects of BoNT/A1 and PD-1 checkpoint blockade in mouse tumor models of melanoma and colon carcinoma. These findings provide some evidence on the potential application of BoNT/A1 as an anticancer drug in combination with immune checkpoint blockade and should be further explored.

Crosstalk Between Peripheral Innervation and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive lethal malignancy, characterized by late diagnosis, aggressive growth, and therapy resistance, leading to a poor overall prognosis. Emerging evidence shows that the peripheral nerve is an important non-tumor component in the tumor microenvironment that regulates tumor growth and immune escape. The crosstalk between the neuronal system and PDAC has become a hot research topic that may provide novel mechanisms underlying tumor progression and further uncover promising therapeutic targets. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms of perineural invasion and the role of various types of tumor innervation in the progression of PDAC, summarize the potential signaling pathways modulating the neuronal-cancer interaction, and discuss the current and future therapeutic possibilities for this condition.

RNA modification regulator DDC in endometrial cancer affects the tumor microenvironment and patient prognosis

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is infiltrated by immune cells, which are involved in the growth and proliferation of malignant tumors and resistance to immunotherapy. This study suggested that RNA modification regulators played an important role in the development and prognosis of UCEC. Many studies confirmed that RNA modification played an essential role in tumor immune regulation, and abnormal RNA modification contributed to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Based on the RNA modification regulatory factors, the UCEC samples from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) were classified into two clusters, namely Cluster A and Cluster B, using unsupervised consensus clustering. We obtained DEG (differentially expressed genes) between the two clusters, and constructed a risk model of RNA modification-related genes using DEGs. Cluster A had lower RNA modification regulatory factors, richer immune cell infiltration, and better prognosis. The differentially expressed genes between the two clusters were obtained, and these genes were used for modeling. This model divided patients with UCEC into two groups. The low-risk group had better immune infiltration, and the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve showed that this model had good predictive efficacy. The low-risk group had a better response to immunotherapy by immune checkpoint prediction. We obtained the key gene L-dopa decarboxylase (DDC) through the intersection of LASSO model genes and GEO dataset GSE17025. We evaluated the potential biological functions of DDC. The differences in the expression of DDC were verified by immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the relationship between DDC and immune cell infiltration and verified this difference using immunofluorescence. Cluster A with low expression of RNA modification regulators has better prognosis and richer immune cell infiltration, therefore, we believed that RNA modification regulators in UCEC were closely related to the tumor microenvironment. Also, the risk score could well predict the prognosis of patients and guide immunotherapy, which might benefit patients with UCEC.

Targeting the Cancer-Neuronal Crosstalk in the Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents one of the most aggressive solid tumors with a dismal prognosis and an increasing incidence. At the time of diagnosis, more than 85% of patients are in an unresectable stage. For these patients, chemotherapy can prolong survival by only a few months. Unfortunately, in recent decades, no groundbreaking therapies have emerged for PDAC, thus raising the question of how to identify novel therapeutic druggable targets to improve prognosis. Recently, the tumor microenvironment and especially its neural component has gained increasing interest in the pancreatic cancer field. A histological hallmark of PDAC is perineural invasion (PNI), whereby cancer cells invade surrounding nerves, providing an alternative route for metastatic spread. The extent of PNI has been positively correlated with early tumor recurrence and reduced overall survival. Multiple studies have shown that mechanisms involved in PNI are also involved in tumor spread and pain generation. Targeting these pathways has shown promising results in alleviating pain and reducing PNI in preclinical models. In this review, we will describe the mechanisms and future treatment strategies to target this mutually trophic interaction between cancer cells to open novel avenues for the treatment of patients diagnosed with PDAC.

Cancer metastasis: Molecular mechanisms and clinical perspectives

Metastatic progression combined with non-responsiveness towards systemic therapy often shapes the course of disease for cancer patients and commonly determines its lethal outcome. The complex molecular events that promote metastasis are a combination of both, the acquired pro-metastatic properties of cancer cells and a metastasis-permissive or -supportive tumor micro-environment (TME). Yet, dissemination is a challenging process for cancer cells that requires a series of events to enable cancer cell survival and growth. Metastatic cancer cells have to initially detach themselves from primary tumors, overcome the challenges of their intravasal journey and colonize distant sites that are suited for their metastases. The implicated obstacles including anoikis and immune surveillance, can be overcome by intricate intra- and extracellular signaling pathways, which we will summarize and discuss in this review. Further, emerging modulators of metastasis, like the immune-microenvironment, microbiome, sublethal cell death engagement, or the nervous system will be integrated into the existing working model of metastasis.

Deciphering the heterogeneity and immunosuppressive function of regulatory T cells in osteosarcoma using single-cell RNA transcriptome

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly invasive malignant neoplasm with poor prognosis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an essential role in the occurrence and development of OS. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are known to facilitate immunosuppression, tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. However, the effect of Tregs in the TME of OS remains unclear. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data was used to identify Tregs and various other cell clusters in the TME of OS. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to investigate the signaling pathways in Tregs from OS and adjacent tissues. The CellChat and iTALK packages were used to analyze cellular communication. In addition, a prognostic model was established based on the Tregs-specific genes using bulk RNA-seq from the TARGET database, and it was verified using a Gene Expression Omnibus dataset. The pRRophetic package was used to predict drug sensitivity. Immunohistochemistry was used to verify the expression of candidate genes in OS. Based on the above methods, we showed that the OS samples were highly infiltrated with Tregs. GSVA revealed that oxidative phosphorylation, angiogenesis and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) were highly activated in Tregs from OS compared with those from adjacent tissues. Using cellular communication analysis, we found that Tregs interacted with osteoblastic, endothelial, and myeloid cells via C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) signaling; particularly, they strongly affected the expression of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and interacted with other cell clusters through CXCL12/transforming growth factor β1 (TGFB1) to collectively enable tumor growth and progression. Subsequently, two Tregs-specific genes-CD320 and MAF-were screened through univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) and multivariate analysis to construct a prognostic model, which showed excellent prognostic accuracy in two independent cohorts. In addition, drug sensitivity analysis demonstrated that OS patients at high Tregs risk were sensitive to sunitinib, sorafenib, and axitinib. We also used immunohistochemistry to validate that CD320 and MAF were significantly upregulated in OS tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Overall, this study reveals the heterogeneity of Tregs in the OS TME, providing new insights into the invasion and treatment of this cancer.

Tumor Abnormality-Oriented Nanomedicine Design

Anticancer nanomedicines have been proven effective in mitigating the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. However, challenges remain in augmenting their therapeutic efficacy. Nanomedicines responsive to the pathological abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are expected to overcome the biological limitations of conventional nanomedicines, enhance the therapeutic efficacies, and further reduce the side effects. This Review aims to quantitate the various pathological abnormalities in the TME, which may serve as unique endogenous stimuli for the design of stimuli-responsive nanomedicines, and to provide a broad and objective perspective on the current understanding of stimuli-responsive nanomedicines for cancer treatment. We dissect the typical transport process and barriers of cancer drug delivery, highlight the key design principles of stimuli-responsive nanomedicines designed to tackle the series of barriers in the typical drug delivery process, and discuss the "all-into-one" and "one-for-all" strategies for integrating the needed properties for nanomedicines. Ultimately, we provide insight into the challenges and future perspectives toward the clinical translation of stimuli-responsive nanomedicines.